5 things worth your money: the fashion items that are always worth the investment
TL;DR:
- Gen Z is sharing lists on TikTok of five things that are always worth the money
- Our fashion edit: the perfect jeans, a signature scent, a Birkin, vintage Chanel and the Saint Laurent loafer
- The Birkin is the controversial pick, but gains value instead of losing it
- Vintage Chanel often outperforms current collections in quality
- The common thread: buy once, properly, instead of three times almost right
TikTok has another new obsession. Gen Z is sharing their personal lists of five things that are always worth the money, from digital cameras to Stanley cups. The videos rack up millions of views, and honestly, you get why.
Because everyone has that list in their head. The things you never second-guess, that you never wait for a sale on, and that still make you happy years later. This is ours.
1. The perfect jeans
Photo: Acne Studios/Maison Mihara Yasuhiro
There's a version of jeans that never ages. Not the cheap kind that loses its shape after two washes, but a well-cut pair from a brand that knows what it's doing.
Jeans that fit well go with everything, earn their place in any closet and only get better over the years. Look for them, find them, wear them until they literally fall apart. Start with Acne Studios or Maison Mihara Yasuhiro, or check out all jeans for women and men.
2. A signature scent
Photo: Montale/Mancera
A scent that belongs to you is the most subtle statement you can make. Not a seasonal body spray, but a perfume you wear all year round, one that makes people think of you before they even see you.
It takes time to find it, but once you have, it's forever. That's exactly why it's worth the money. Discover Montale, Mancera and the rest of our beauty selection.
3. A Hermès Birkin
Photo: Hermès
This is the controversial pick on the list. The Birkin isn't for everyone, and it's not meant to be. But if you see it for what it actually is, an investment that rises in value instead of dropping, the maths change.
A Birkin doesn't lose value. It gains it. That makes it, paradoxically, one of the smartest purchases on this list. Check out the range from Hermès.
4. Vintage Chanel
Photo: Chanel
Vintage Chanel is the better version of the argument that you need something new. The quality of older Chanel pieces often outperforms current collections.
A vintage Chanel jacket, bag or accessory has character, history and a presence you don't buy, you find. And what you find keeps its value. Always. Check out the Chanel selection.
5. The classic Saint Laurent loafer
Photo: Saint Laurent
There are shoes you wear and shoes that make an outfit. The leather loafer from Saint Laurent is the second kind. Timeless, sharp and well made enough to last for years.
Wear it with a suit, with jeans, with a dress. It always works. That's exactly what makes something worth the investment. Check out all shoes for women and men.
What these five items have in common
The common thread isn't the price, it's the staying power. Every item on this list gets better or stays the same over time, instead of falling out of rotation after one season.
That's also the maths you need to do. Buying once, properly, is almost always cheaper than buying three times almost right. What's left is a closet where you no longer have to replace anything.
Ready to invest? Check out the newest items for women and men.
Frequently asked questions about investment pieces
Which fashion items hold their value best?
A Hermès Birkin and vintage Chanel consistently perform best. The Birkin typically rises in value instead of dropping, and older Chanel pieces stay in demand because the quality of the archive often outperforms current collections.
Is a Hermès Birkin really a good investment?
If you see it as an investment rather than a purchase, the maths change. The Birkin doesn't lose value, it gains it, which paradoxically makes it one of the smartest choices on this list. It does remain the most expensive way in.
Why is vintage Chanel better than new?
The quality of older Chanel pieces often outperforms current collections. On top of that, a vintage piece has character and history you don't buy, you find, which is exactly why it keeps its value.
How do you find a signature scent?
Take your time and test one scent per visit, on your skin and not on paper. A signature scent is a perfume you wear all year round, so pick one that isn't tied to a season. Brands like Montale and Mancera are a good starting point.
